1954 FIFA World Cup qualification

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1954 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Teams37 (from 3 confederations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played57
Goals scored208 (3.65 per match)
Top scorer(s)West Germany Max Morlock (6 goals)
← 1950
1958 →

A total of 37 teams entered the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Switzerland, as the hosts, and Uruguay, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.

37 teams were divided into 13 groups, based on geographical considerations, as follows:

  • Groups 1 to 10 – Europe: 11 places, contested by 27 teams (including Egypt and Israel).
  • Group 11 and 12 – The Americas: 2 places, contested by 7 teams.
  • Group 13 – Asia: 1 place, contested by 3 teams.

A total of 33 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 57 qualifying matches were played, and 208 goals were scored (an average of 3.65 per match).

Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.

Groups[]

The 13 groups had different rules, as follows:

  • Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 had 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
  • Groups 7 and 9 had 2 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
  • Group 3 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other once. The group winner and runner-up would qualify.
  • Group 11 had 4 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 12 had 3 teams. The teams played against each other twice. The group winner would qualify.
  • Group 13 had 3 teams. After Republic of China withdrew before the matches began, the remaining 2 teams played against each other twice. The group winner would qualify.


Group 1[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 1
Pos Team
  • v
  • t
 Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GD Pts Qualification
1  West Germany (Q) 4 2 0 0 8 1 1 1 0 4 2 +9 7 Qualification to World Cup — 3–0 5–1
2  Saar 4 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 1 3 5 −4 3 1–3 — 0–0
3  Norway 4 0 1 1 3 4 0 1 1 1 5 −5 2 1–1 2–3 —
Source:[citation needed]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

West Germany qualified.

Group 2[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 2
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Belgium 4 3 1 0 11 6 +5 7
2  Sweden 4 1 1 2 9 8 +1 3
3  Finland 4 0 2 2 7 13 −6 2
25 May 1953 Finland  2–4  Belgium Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta Goal 49', 75' Report Coppens Goal 4', 26', 83'
Anoul Goal 9'		 Stadium: Olympic Stadion
Referee: Helge (Denmark)
28 May 1953 Sweden  2–3  Belgium Stockholm, Sweden
Berndtsson Goal 20'
Selmosson Goal 26'		 Report Anoul Goal 28'
Straetmans Goal 37'
Lemberechts Goal 40'		 Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Mowat (Scotland)
5 August 1953 Finland  3–3  Sweden Helsinki, Finland
Lehtovirta Goal 63'
Lahtinen Goal 67'
Rikberg Goal 70'		 Report Sandell Goal 9', 71'
Persson Goal 23'		 Stadium: Olympic Stadion
Referee: Baalstad (Norway)
16 August 1953 Sweden  4–0  Finland Stockholm, Sweden
Sandberg Goal 22'
Sandell Goal 24', 61'
Sandin Goal 56'		 Report Stadium: Råsunda Stadion
Referee: Asmussen (Denmark)
23 September 1953 Belgium  2–2  Finland Brussels, Belgium
Bollen Goal 25', 75' Report Lahtinen Goal 83'
Vaihela Goal 90'		 Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Baumberger (Switzerland)
8 October 1953 Belgium  2–0  Sweden Brussels, Belgium
Coppens Goal 23'
Mees Goal 49'		 Report Stadium: Heysel Stadion
Referee: Schipper (Netherlands)

Belgium qualified. This is the first time Sweden failed to qualify.

Group 3[]

Main article: 1953–54 British Home Championship

This group was also the 1953–54 British Home Championship.

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  England 3 3 0 0 11 4 +7 6
2  Scotland 3 1 1 1 8 8 0 3
3  Northern Ireland 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 2
4  Wales 3 0 1 2 5 9 −4 1
3 October 1953 Northern Ireland  1–3  Scotland Belfast, Northern Ireland
Lockhart Goal 72' (pen.) Report Fleming Goal 47', 69'
Henderson Goal 89'		 Stadium: Windsor Park
Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis (England)
10 October 1953 Wales  1–4  England Cardiff, Wales
Allchurch Goal 22' Report Wilshaw Goal 45', 49'
Lofthouse Goal 52', 53'		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
4 November 1953 Scotland  3–3  Wales Glasgow, Scotland
Brown Goal 19'
Johnstone Goal 42'
Reilly Goal 58'		 Report Charles Goal 49', 88'
Allchurch Goal 73'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)
11 November 1953 England  3–1  Northern Ireland Liverpool, England
Hassall Goal 10', 60'
Lofthouse Goal 75'		 Report McMorran Goal 54' Stadium: Goodison Park
Referee: Robert Smith (Wales)
31 March 1954 Wales  1–2  Northern Ireland Wrexham, Wales
Charles Goal 80' Report McParland Goal 1', 52' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Referee: Charles Faultless (Scotland)
3 April 1954 Scotland  2–4  England Glasgow, Scotland
Brown Goal 7'
Ormond Goal 89'		 Report Broadis Goal 13'
Nicholls Goal 50'
Allen Goal 68'
Mullen Goal 83'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Referee: Thomas Mitchell (Northern Ireland)

England and Scotland qualified.

Group 4[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 4
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  France 4 4 0 0 20 4 +16 8
2  Republic of Ireland 4 2 0 2 8 6 +2 4
3  Luxembourg 4 0 0 4 1 19 −18 0
20 September 1953 Luxembourg  1–6  France Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Kohn Goal 6' Report Piantoni Goal 5'
Kopa Goal 10'
Cicci Goal 41'
Glovacki Goal 44'
Kargu Goal 73'
Flamion Goal 88'		 Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Dörflinger (Switzerland)
4 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  3–5  France Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Ryan Goal 58' (pen.)
Walsh Goal 83'
O'Farrell Goal 88'		 Report Glovacki Goal 23'
Penverne Goal 40'
Ujlaki Goal 50', 69'
Flamion Goal 72'		 Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Franken (Belgium)
28 October 1953 Republic of Ireland  4–0  Luxembourg Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Fitzsimons Goal 14', 83'
Ryan Goal 48' (pen.)
Eglington Goal 59'		 Report Stadium: Dalymount Park
Referee: Bond (England)
25 November 1953 France  1–0  Republic of Ireland Paris, France
Piantoni Goal 73' Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Van Nuffel (Belgium)
17 December 1953 France  8–0  Luxembourg Paris, France
Desgranges Goal 2', 88'
Vincent Goal 6', 10'
Fontaine Goal 21', 75', 80'
Foix Goal 57'		 Report Stadium: Parc des Princes
Referee: Roeykens (Belgium)
7 March 1954 Luxembourg  0–1  Republic of Ireland Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Report Cummins Goal 67' Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Ausum (Netherlands)

France qualified.

Group 5[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 5
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Austria 2 1 1 0 9 1 +8 3
2  Portugal 2 0 1 1 1 9 −8 1
27 September 1953 Austria  9–1  Portugal Vienna, Austria
Ocwirk Goal 13'
Probst Goal 14', 19', 31', 59', 70'
Happel Goal 68' (pen.)
Wagner Goal 83'
Dienst Goal 87'		 Report Águas Goal 60' Stadium: Praterstadion
Referee: Bauwens (Belgium)
29 November 1953 Portugal  0–0  Austria Lisbon, Portugal
Report Stadium: Estádio Nacional
Referee: Harzic (France)

Austria qualified.

Group 6[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 6
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Spain 2 1 0 1 4 2 +2 2
 Turkey 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 2
6 January 1954 Spain  4–1  Turkey Madrid, Spain
Venancio Goal 13'
Gaínza Goal 48'
Goal 49'
Alsua Goal 65'		 Report Recep Goal 31' Stadium: Estadio Nuevo Chamartín
Referee: Vincentini (France)
14 March 1954 Turkey  1–0  Spain Istanbul, Turkey
Burhan Goal 16' Report Stadium: Mithat Paşa Stadium
Referee: Schmetzer (Germany)

Spain and Turkey finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

17 March 1954 Turkey  2–2 (a.e.t.)  Spain Rome, Italy
Burhan Goal 25'
Suat Goal 64'		 Report Artetxe Goal 11'
Escudero Goal 78'		 Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Bernardi (Italy)

Luigi Franco Gemma, a 14-year-old Italian boy whose father worked at the stadium, picked Turkey's name from the lots with his eyes blindfolded.[1][2] Since the 1970 FIFA World Cup finals, goal difference has been used as a tiebreaker for future qualifying rounds. Had those rules been in place, Spain would have qualified, and Turkey would have been eliminated. This is the first time Spain failed to qualify. Therefore, Turkey qualified. This was the only time winner of agreggate score failed to qualify.

Group 7[]

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Hungary Qualified
—  Poland Withdrew
—  Iceland Entry rejected

Poland withdrew and Iceland have their entry rejected so Hungary qualified automatically.

Group 8[]

Main article:
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Czechoslovakia 4 3 1 0 5 1 +4 7
2  Romania 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 4
3  Bulgaria 4 0 1 3 3 7 −4 1
14 June 1953 Czechoslovakia  2–0  Romania Prague, Czechoslovakia
Pažický Goal 54'
Vlk Goal 63'		 Report Referee: Pósa (Hungary)
28 June 1953 Romania  3–1  Bulgaria Bucharest, Romania
Pecsovszky Goal 20', 30'
Ene Goal 82'		 Report Tashkov Goal 53' Stadium:
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
6 September 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Czechoslovakia Sofia, Bulgaria
Bozhkov Goal 55' (pen.) Report Vlk Goal 5', 40' Stadium: Vasil Levski
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Aleksandrowicz (Poland)
11 October 1953 Bulgaria  1–2  Romania Sofia, Bulgaria
Kolev Goal 28' Report Serfözö Goal 27'
Călinoiu Goal 52'		 Stadium: Vasil Levski
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Dorogi (Hungary)
25 October 1953 Romania  0–1  Czechoslovakia Bucharest, Romania
Report Šafránek Goal 38' (pen.) Referee: Schulz (East Germany)
8 November 1953 Czechoslovakia  0–0  Bulgaria Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Report Stadium: Tehelne Pole
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Chkhatarashvili (Soviet Union)

Czechoslovakia qualified. This was the first time Romania failed to qualify.

Group 9[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 9
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Italy 2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 4
2  Egypt 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 0
13 November 1953 Egypt  1–2  Italy Cairo, Egypt
Ad-Diba Goal 33' Frignani Goal 62'
Muccinelli Goal 79'		 Stadium: Al Ahly Stadium
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Steiner (Austria)
24 January 1954 Italy  5–1  Egypt Milan, Italy
Pandolfini Goal 1'
Frignani Goal 62'
Boniperti Goal 65', 86'
Ricagni Goal 84'		 El-Hamouly Goal 32' Stadium: Milan Municipality Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Horn (Netherlands)

Italy qualified.

Group 10[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 10
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Yugoslavia 4 4 0 0 4 0 +4 8
2  Greece 4 2 0 2 3 2 +1 4
3  Israel 4 0 0 4 0 5 −5 0
9 May 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Greece Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Matošić Goal 71' Report Referee: Steiner (Austria)
1 November 1953 Greece  1–0  Israel Athens, Greece
Bembis Goal 52' Report Referee: Massai (Italy)
8 November 1953 Yugoslavia  1–0  Israel Skopje, Yugoslavia
Milutinović Goal 3' Report Referee: Alsteen (Belgium)
8 March 1954 Israel  0–2  Greece Tel Aviv, Israel
Report Goal 61'
Kamaras Goal 83'		 Referee: Buchmüller (Switzerland)
21 March 1954 Israel  0–1  Yugoslavia Tel Aviv, Israel
Report Zebec Goal 80' Referee: Leafe (England)
28 March 1954 Greece  0–1  Yugoslavia Athens, Greece
Report Veselinović Goal 50' Referee: Rufli (Switzerland)

Yugoslavia qualified.

Group 11[]

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Brazil 4 4 0 0 8 1 +7 8
2  Paraguay 4 2 0 2 8 6 +2 4
3  Chile 4 0 0 4 1 10 −9 0
—  Peru Withdrew
—  Bolivia Entry rejected


14 February 1954 Paraguay  4–0  Chile Asunción, Paraguay
Goal 30'
J. Parodi Goal 52'
Goal 70'
Goal 79'		 Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 February 1954 Chile  1–3  Paraguay Santiago, Chile
Robledo Goal 16' Goal 17', 63'
J. Parodi Goal 84'		 Referee: Vincentini (France)
28 February 1954 Chile  0–2  Brazil Santiago, Chile
Baltazar Goal 38', 63' Referee: Vincentini (France)
7 March 1954 Paraguay  0–1  Brazil Asunción, Paraguay
Baltazar Goal 52' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
14 March 1954 Brazil  1–0  Chile Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Baltazar Goal 35' Referee: Steiner (Austria)
21 March 1954 Brazil  4–1  Paraguay Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Botelho Goal 60', 85'
Baltazar Goal 62'
Maurinho Goal 90'		 Martínez Goal 75' Referee: Vincentini (France)

Brazil qualified. Despite they qualified for the all World Cups, this was the first time they played the qualifying match, and the first time to the South American zone qualification matches was played.

Group 12[]

Main article:
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Mexico 4 4 0 0 19 1 +18 8
2  United States 4 2 0 2 7 9 −2 4
3  Haiti 4 0 0 4 2 18 −16 0
4  Costa Rica Entry rejected
5  Cuba Entry rejected


19 July 1953 Mexico  8–0  Haiti Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar Goal 23', 26', 76'
Gómez Goal 27'
Goal 34'
Goal 38', 69', 85'		 Referee: Crawford (England)
27 December 1953 Haiti  0–4  Mexico Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Ávalos Goal 6'
Lamadrid Goal 15', 59'
Balcázar Goal 65'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
10 January 1954 Mexico  4–0  United States Mexico City, Mexico
Balcázar Goal 5'
Scheppel Goal 16' (o.g.)
Lamadrid Goal 47'
Naranjo Goal 63'		 Referee: Sunderland (England)
14 January 1954 Mexico  3–1  United States Mexico City, Mexico
A. Torres Goal 60', 89'
Lamadrid Goal 82'		 Looby Goal 6' Referee: Best (United States)
3 March 1954 Haiti  2–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Goal 60' (pen.), 89' Casey Goal 20'
Chacurian Goal 42'
Looby Goal 83'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)
4 March 1954 Haiti  0–3  United States Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Looby Goal 22', 65'
Mendoza Goal 31'		 Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles)

Mexico qualified. The United States failed to qualify for the first time.

Group 13[]

Main article: 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC – Group 13)
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  South Korea 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 3
2  Japan 2 0 1 1 3 7 −4 1
3  Republic of China Withdrew
4  India Entry rejected
5  Vietnam Entry rejected


7 March 1954 Japan  1–5  South Korea Tokyo, Japan
Naganuma Goal 16' Chung Nam-sik Goal 22'
Goal 34'
Sung Nak-woon Goal 65'
Choi Chung-min Goal 82', 85'		 Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)
14 March 1954 South Korea  2–2  Japan Tokyo, Japan
Chung Nam-sik Goal 20'
Goal 43'		 Iwatani Goal 17', 61' Stadium: Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
Referee: Haran (Hong Kong)

South Korea qualified.

Qualified teams[]

FIFA World Cup qualification 1954
Qualifying countries
Team Finals appearance Streak Last appearance
 Austria 3rd 1 1938
 Belgium 4th 1 1938
 Brazil 5th 5 1950
 Czechoslovakia 3rd 1 1938
 England 2nd 2 1950
 France 4th 1 1938
 Hungary 3rd 1 1938
 Italy 4th 4 1950
 South Korea 1st 1 —
 Mexico 3rd 2 1950
 Scotland 1st 1 —
  Switzerland (h) 4th 4 1950
 Turkey 1st 1 —
 Uruguay (c) 3rd 2 1950
 West Germany 1st 1 —
 Yugoslavia 3rd 2 1950

(h) – qualified automatically as hosts

(c) – qualified automatically as defending champions

6 of the 16 teams subsequently failed to qualify for the 1958 finals: Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and Uruguay.

Goalscorers[]

6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Notes[]

  • Turkey gained a place in the World Cup through drawing lots, over Spain after failing to decide which team was the winner of Group 6 after three matches. However, it was not the only one. Morocco eliminated Tunisia during qualification for the 1962 FIFA World Cup by drawing lots, and eliminated Tunisia again on a coin toss during 1970 World Cup qualification. They also eliminated Tunisia during qualification for the 1968 Olympics either by drawing lots or a coin toss. In 1978, Tunisia defeated Morocco during World Cup qualification on penalties, in the first time penalties were ever used during World Cup qualification.
  • For the first time, qualification matches were actually played in South America, since in all previous World Cups, the South American teams all qualified automatically due to withdrawals (in the case of 1934) or through the South American Football Championship (for the 1938 and 1950 tournaments). Argentina did not take part to the qualification process.
  • As the French-occupied Saarland protectorate became part of the Federal Republic of Germany only in 1957, the Saarland entered their only World Cup competition and actually had to play Germany in the qualifiers.
  • The entries of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Iceland, India, and South Vietnam were rejected by FIFA.[3]
  • After being banned from the 1950 edition, Germany and Japan were both allowed to play again, West Germany eventually qualified and became champions after defeating Hungary with a score of 3–2 in the final that became known as the Miracle of Bern.

References[]

  1. ^ "Play-off history provides no clues for Spain". FIFA. 20 Oct 2005.
  2. ^ Rogers, Iain (27 March 2009). "Don't mention the draw!". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009.
  3. ^ "History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 20 June 2014.

External links[]

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